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  Switzerland 2009 Lake Luzern and Bernese Oberland

 

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Lake Luzern and Bernese Oberland


We drove around the northern edge of Vierwald-stätter See (Lake Luzern) through a few small lakeside villages to the resort of Vitznau and on to Weggis where we found a small campsite in the meadows to the west of the town. The next morning we walked into the town centre and lakeside promenade where a four-piece band was entertaining an audience of a dozen older citizens. Not a very lively place but saw posters for a traditional Swiss folk evening the night before which we had missed as usual! We asked in the tourist office about internet access but the only place was at a backpackers hostel so we called in and checked our mail at a rather expensive 3.50CHF for fifteen minutes. We then drove back along the attractive lakeside road for a lunch stop at Vitznau with a few grand hotels, and found a paying parking area (but no overnighting by motorhomes allowed of course). From here the rack railway climbs to the top of Rigi mountain, one of the first to be developed for tourists, but it was only running a limited infrequent timetable except at weekends.

Not overwhelmed by this area with it being rather quiet in the low season, we found an ACSI discount campsite fairly nearby at Mierskappel which turned out to be a rather more interesting place with a wild west theme. Tepees and a traditional old US Western street were being erected for an event the next weekend. The next day was rather wet so we stayed put and watched a "cowboy" wedding reception at the site in the afternoon and chatted to a British couple (the first we had met for at least two weeks) and some Dutch caravanners. Usefully there was also free wifi across the site. 

Vitznau
Vitznau

Meierskappel Wild West street             Meierskappel Wild West campsite  
Meierskappel Wild West campsite


The next morning we decided to bypass the city of Luzern and head for the Bernese Oberland, driving past Sarnersee and the attractive Lungernsee where we stopped to look at the view as the road climbed over the Brünigpass (the tall poles by the road were a frequently seen feature in Switzerland indicating the size of a proposed building so this view could be lost in the future),and on to Meiringen then to a small ACSI campsite at the Aareschlucht gorge near Innertkirchen. From the site we walked by the river to the village passing a picnic place with a barbecue hearth and logs provided. From the signs this was one of many of these family picnic places set up across Switzerland. We also spotted a barn with an impressive log store wall. The roads to the Grimsel and Susten Passes meet here making an interesting round trip with the Furkapass, although the Susten was not yet open in early June. From there we drove back to Brienz and after a stroll around the town with several woodcarving studios and interesting carved signs for the local walks we continued along the bright blue Brienzer See to Interlaken.

          Brienz wooden sign
           
   Brienz wooden sign
                Brienz signposts


Lungernsee
Lungernsee
 
Aareschlucht gorge
Aareschlucht gorge

Woodstore barn
Woodstore barn


Turning south through Winderswil we drove along the valley to the end of the road past Lauterbrunnen, where we were planning to stay but as it was rather enclosed in the steep vally we turned back and took the road to Grindelwald where we found the popular Camping Gletschedorf on the edge of the town. The views to the Eiger mountain and glaciers were impressive and although the town is very tourist focussed and rather sprawling with many hotels, there are still many traditional Swiss chalets dotted across the valley and plenty of quiet but rather hilly country lanes and meadows full of wild flowers everywhere.
Flower meadows near Grindelwald   mountains from Grindelwald   Grindelwald 
                             Flower meadows and mountains                                          Grindelwald

We walked up to the Gletscherschlucht gorge but it was closed for repairs to the walkway. However following a signposted walk which zigzagged up the steep hill we came out at the top of the gorge where a footbridge crossed the narrow gap in the sheer rocks.

Gletscherschlucht gorge from above
Gletscherschlucht gorge from above

Gletscherschlucht gorge - closed for repairs
 Gletscherschlucht gorge - closed for repairs


The next morning after returning to Interlaken we headed west along Thuner See to Spiez where we parked near the castle overlooking the lake. After a walk around the grounds and down to the quayside where the lake steamers call in, we headed for the town centre which was deserted with everything closed for lunchtime. Finding an ACSI discount campsite nearby at Krattingen we booked in for one night. The site was mostly chalets and virtually everything cost extra with compulsory rubbish bag tax as well as a high tourist tax. After an afternoon stroll around the typically tidy Swiss village we spent the evening planning our route back to France.  

   Traditional decorated Swiss house
    Spiez - decorated Swiss house


Spiez castle
Spiez castle 

Spiez castle gardens
Spiez castle gardens


We decided to look at Thun at the western end of the lake the next morning. After a walk around the busy town centre with its unusual two tiered pavements on the main street and a quick look at the castle we decided we had seen enough of Switzerland and we drove on good main roads through the hills to the attractive valley around Chateau-d'Oex, a popular hot air ballooning centre, then an easy drive over the Col des Mosses to Aigle and on to the southern shore of Lake Geneva. We were glad to reach the familiar scruffiness of France again and continued towards Evian and found a campsite in the small village of Champanges in the hills above the lake.
  Thun covered bridge  Thun castle  Thun elevated pavement
               Thun covered bridge                         Thun castle                        Thun elevated pavement

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